Academics | Curriculum

Integrated Curriculum

Northeastern Seminary's approach to biblical, theological, and
historical studies in the master's programs reflect a centuries-old
integrated, holistic approach to ministry preparation while the
doctor of ministry program combines scripture, spirituality, and
leadership in an interwoven curriculum.

Northeastern Seminary's Innovative and
Integrated Core Program (Click to expand)

At the heart of both the M.Div. and M.A. degree programs
is the Core curriculum, which proceeds in a coherent sequenced
manner with four larger courses using a common methodology (BHT/BIB
511-514NE). All students begin their NES experience with the Core.
These four courses involve the student in the traditional studies
of biblical theology, church history, and systematic theology in an
integrated, holistic, and non-sectarian approach to theological
study.

Each course covers a distinct era in the development of
Christianity and investigates that timeframe through five
lenses:

The Church's historical and cultural context
The Church's interpretation and use of Scripture
Theological issues and contributions
Church life and ministry
Application of the above to ministry to contemporary culture

Along with this biblical, historical, and theological journey
across 2000 years of church history, the student practices the
classic spiritual disciplines employed by Christians down through
the centuries to nurture and maintain a growing relationship with
Jesus Christ.

This course involves an in-depth study in the biblical record of
the first century Church. Significant time is spent in the Old
Testament, as well as the New Testament. Special attention is given
to evangelism, missions, and church growth, as distinguishing
features of this era of church history.[Corequisite: must be taken with PSF 511NE]

This course mines the rich resources of the patristic and medieval
eras of the Church's history. During the patristic era, the
Church-working with the resources of
the biblical era-clearly defined
Christian doctrine in subjects such as: the nature of God and the
Trinity, Jesus Christ, creation, human nature, and salvation (cf.
Apostles' Creed); the basic Christian pattern of living; and the
structure of the church, worship, the ordained ministry, membership
and church discipline. The medieval era saw additional developments
in ecclesiastical policy and restatements of doctrine after
recovery of Aristotle's works.[Prerequisite: successful completion of BHT/PSF 511NE and BIB
511NE][Corequisite: must be taken with PSF 512NE]

This course studies the Church in the tumultuous 16th-18th centuries, which led up to the modern
era. During the Protestant Reformation and Great Awakening, the
Christian Church experienced massive upheavals as it wrestled with
the doctrine of salvation. Many new denominations and movements
emerged as the contestants joined battle and reached differing
views on such issues as: the way in which people become Christians;
the manner in which Christians are to live; and the nature of the
true Church in polity, the sacraments, public worship, and the
ordained ministry and mission.[Prerequisite: successful completion of BHT/PSF 511NE, BIB
511NE and, if your program requires it, BHT/PSF 512NE and BIB
512NE][Corequisite: must be taken with PSF 513NE]

BHT 514NEThe Modern and Postmodern Era: The Church in an Age of
Science, Technology, and SecularizationCredits 6.5-9

This course surveys the history and theology of Christianity in
the 19th and 20th centuries. Specific attention is given to the
prominent theologians, theological movements, and the
ecclesiastical developments of the modern and postmodern eras. This
course exposes the student to contemporary theories of biblical
interpretation, the impact of social location on theology, and
problems of religious pluralism and secularization.[Prerequisite: successful completion of BHT/PSF 511NE, BIB
511NE and, if your program requires it, BHT/PSF 512NE, BIB 512NE,
BHT/PSF 513NE, and BIB 513NE][Corequisite: must be taken with PSF 514NE]

BIB 511NEBiblical WorldviewCredits: 2

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments embody a distinctive
worldview or vision of life that communicates God's intentions for
humanity and the cosmos, stretching from creation to eschaton. This
worldview is interwoven into the warp and woof of Scripture, but is
especially communicated through the overarching story told in its
pages, which provides the non-negotiable framework that should
guide the church in living out its mission. This course explores
the unity of the biblical worldview and helps students engage in
theological reflection on key moments of its narrative unfolding,
with implications for Christian living in the contemporary world.
Our theological reflections will intentionally interact with
counter-tendencies in the church and society that present
challenges to embodying this worldview. This course will also
explore how a solid grasp of the foundational biblical vision of
reality helps equip church leaders to become better interpreters of
Scripture, a skill central to the pastoral vocation.

BIB 512NEBiblical Exegesis ICredits: 2

Building on BIB 511NE, this course introduces students to
responsible interpretation (or "exegesis") of the Bible (both Old
and New Testaments), thus laying the foundation for BIB 513NE and
BIB 514NE. The course focuses on hands-on, practical skills in
reading the biblical text carefully in its literary and
historical/cultural context, to understand its message for today.
Students will be introduced to the process of exegesis, applying
each step in the process to two significant biblical passages (one
Old Testament and one New Testament). Significant attention will
also be paid to researching and writing an exegesis paper as a
basis for teaching and preaching in the church.[Prerequisite: successful completion of BHT/PSF 511NE and BIB
511NE, or permission of the instructor]

BIB 513NEBiblical Exegesis IICredits: 2

Building on BIB 512NE, this course provides students with further
opportunities to grow in responsible interpretation (or "exegesis")
of the Bible (both Old and New Testament). It focuses on hands-on,
practical skills in reading the biblical text carefully in its
literary and historical/cultural context, to understand its message
for today. Focus will be placed on a variety of biblical texts as
case studies in exegesis, many of which will be chosen for their
relevance to BHT 513NE. Significant attention will also be paid to
the process of researching and writing an exegesis paper as a basis
for teaching and preaching in the church.[Prerequisite: successful completion of BHT/PSF 511NE, BIB
511NE, and, if your program requires it, BHT/PSF 512NE, BIB
512NE]

BIB 514NEBiblical Exegesis IIICredits: 2

Building on BIB 512NE and BIB 513NE, this course provides students
with further opportunities to grow in responsible interpretation
(or "exegesis") of the Bible (both Old and New Testament). It
focuses on hands-on, practical skills in reading the biblical text
carefully in its literary and historical/cultural context, to
understand its message for today. Focus will be placed on a variety
of biblical texts as case studies in exegesis, many of which will
be chosen for their relevance to BHT 514NE. Significant attention
will also be paid to the process of researching and writing an
exegesis paper as a basis for teaching and preaching in the
church.[Prerequisite: successful completion of BHT/PSF 511NE, BIB
511NE, and, if your program requires it, BHT/PSF 512NE, BIB 512NE,
BHT/PSF 513NE, and BIB 513NE]

Interwoven throughout the period of the NES Core curriculum, these
courses are designed to provide a theological, historical, and
practical introduction to the resources and disciplines of
formative Christian spirituality. In addition to exposure to
classical materials through integrated readings in the Core
curriculum, students will participate outside of class in a
faith-sharing practicum, chapel programs, seminary retreats, and an
individual formative assessment process.[Prerequisite: see BHT511-514NE][Corequisite; must be taken with BHT 511NE, 512NE, 513NE,
514NE]

Theological Field Education (Click to
expand)

The Field Education program at Northeastern seeks to develop
people who will be effective Christian leaders in the changing
contexts of our culture. Specifically, field education provides the
opportunity for seminarians to develop their professional
understanding and competence in ministry, as they are involved in
the practice of ministry under capable supervision.

M.Div. students take four courses and are expected to complete
placements in both a parish and non-parish setting. This course
sequence provides students with hands-on professional training from
capable practitioners and educators. Students develop professional
understanding and competence in ministry. Each course provides time
for on-site training, personal and peer-reflection, and classroom
instruction. Personal and Spiritual Formation (faith-sharing
groups) is a continuing aspect of field education. M.A. students
take one field education course and choose a placement best suited
for their intended ministry.

Northeastern Seminary partners with churches and
ministry-related community agencies in imaginative and innovative
ways to enhance and revitalize pastoral theological training. Our
focus on the practice of ministry and on theological reflection in
field-based learning programs brings the theory of ministry and
pastoral experiences into dialogue. This coupling of theory and
practice strengthens students' personal and professional
development making them better prepared for effective ministry.

Essential Elements of Field Education
(Click to expand)

Both M.Div. and M.A. students are required to complete a field
education component. Normally, this requirement is met during the
second and third years. Each M.Div. student experiences at least
two distinct ministry settings, namely, a congregational and a
community-based placement such as a hospital, hospice, children's
home, nursing home, or prison. Students in the M.A program are only
required to take one semester of field education.

All field education courses consist of a minimum of 8 hours of
ministry practice each week and 4 hours spent in preparation and
involvement in peer reflection groups for a total course
involvement of 150 hours.

Students have a mentoring supervisor in each placement to foster
the seminarian's personal and professional growth and to observe
ministry activities. Mentoring supervisors meet weekly with
seminarians to invest themselves in the lives of the students.

Students currently employed as pastors can use their church
appointment for their congregational placement. In these
situations, a mentoring supervisor will be assigned to the student
to fulfill the above requirement.

Students complete a learning/serving covenant for each
placement. These documents are prepared to help seminarians
identify the things they want to learn in the process of serving.
Students are asked to develop goals and objectives in the following
three areas:

Ministry Knowledge (Knowing): "I want to better
understand…"

Ministry Skills (Doing): "I want to be better able to do…"

Ministry Character (Being): "I would like to be…"

Each parish placement provides a lay ministerial advisory
committee to serve as a resource to the seminarian. Its primary
focus is to create a supportive environment that allows seminarians
the opportunity to learn more about their ministry setting, as well
as to learn how the congregation is receiving their ministry.

Peer reflection groups are an important part of the field
education experience. Seminarians meet regularly for the purpose of
integrating classroom training with field-based ministry
experiences. In addition to continuing to develop their spiritual
formation through faith sharing group meetings, students submit
case studies based on their actual ministry experiences for
discussion during the peer reflection group meetings.

In addition to student case studies, the director of field
education makes formal presentations related to the personal
functioning of pastors. Some of the topics included are:

Ministerial Ethics

Exploring Your Sense of Vocational Calling

Maintaining Emotional Wellbeing

Marriage and Family Adjustment

Managing Transitions in Ministry

Authority/Leadership Conflict

Exit Interviews: "Why Do People Leave the Church?"

Church/Staff Relations

New Beginnings in Ministry

Mid-term progress reports and formal final evaluations occur at
the end of each placement. The evaluation process seeks to help
seminarians clarify personal directions in ministry, address issues
that contribute to or hinder their effectiveness, and provide an
intentional learning agenda. Students are encouraged to consider
taking a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) from an
accredited CPE center. One unit of CPE can be substituted for two
semesters of field education. There are hospital- and parish- based
ACPE centers in western New York. This recommendation is especially
important for students whose denomination requires the completion
of CPE for ordination. Please contact your denominational
representative for your specific ordination requirements. CPE is
also an important consideration, if not essential, for individuals
considering institutional ministry. Contact www.ACPE.edu for more
information on the nature of this educational experience.

Field education is an indispensable component of seminary
training. Field education provides students who have successfully
completed the Core Curriculum the opportunity to further develop
their readiness for ministry. The primary focus is to integrate
what has been learned through classroom-based study, with insights
and experiences of ministry gained under supervision.